Wash Wednesday: Silica Gel Packets for Freshness

So I am finally making my way through the loads of laundry that comes with a newborn. Actually, I must admit that my mom has helped us this week catch up and more importantly find the washer and dryer again underneath massive piles of dirty laundry.

I forgot how much laundry a tiny person can produce. The tiniest person in the house almost makes the most laundry and most certainly doubles your wash input. I find though that one of my favorite chores is to fold all the cute little clothes and put them away.

At least I had all her clothes washed and ready beforehand as recommended on the new baby checklist. I must have done at least a half dozen loads of just newborn clothes (all the clothes everyone was so gracious to give us), sheets, burp cloths, towels, and so on.

And I must have washed each of these loads twice beforehand due to unseen silica gel packet exploding in the wash. At first I was confused over these little beads that seemed to fall out of the clothes when I took them out of the dryer. I had my husband come over and look and he identified them as the freshness beads that come with new clothes. Yes, these beads had secretly made their way through the wash only to swell up and explode out of the packet. Unfortunately I did not discover them until I finished my second load of baby clothes.

After doing some research, I discovered that these beads can be irritable to the skin. When I read this I got mad that some company even considered putting something semi dangerous with infant clothes, causing potential harm to a newborn.

To solve this problem, I took some vinegar and washed out the washing machine on a hot cycle. I also ran the dryer and cleaned the lent trap. Then I rewashed all my infant clothes again to remove any unwanted particles from the clothes to keep them delicate to baby's skin.

So I am here to warn you once again, look through all your new clothes. Remove tags, clean out pockets, and beware of silica packets. It may take you a few extra minutes to do this but it will save you some time and money washing more loads of laundry. And at the very most, it will save your family members from breaking out from a potential hazardous material.

Toy Thursday: Turning Cleaning Into A Game

Yes...I did it. I made cleaning fun. The last couple of days I've talked about using lemons and limes to clean, so I thought I'd try the bathtub cleaning I came across. I sliced my lemons and limes, put them in the tub with cold water and let it sit.

I thought the ducks could use a good citrus soak as well.

Liam was not wanting to go to bed, at all. I was exhausted. I knew I needed to drain and scrub the tubs. So I had him help me.

He thought it was fun to squeeze he juice that remained in the lemons and limes, and when we drained the water, he thought it was fun to take a rag and scrub. I was amazed at how easily the soap scum lifted (even with his 6 year old elbow grease). And the bathroom smelled SO good.

The best part? It wore him out. By the second bathtub, he was tired. And he went to bed (willingly)...and slept in!

However, I should note that I took a shower shortly after we had cleaned the tub and I'm not sure if it was the juice or the lifted gunk, but the tub was a little slippery. So be careful!

Wash Wednesday: Cleaning WITHOUT Chemicals

In yesterday's post, I explained how fresh lemons and limes can be used as decoration...but don't just toss them out! You can use them to clean! Yes, cleaning WITHOUT chemicals. It's the best. And since you've already bought the fruit for "decorations" it's a bonus. No other expensive chemicals to buy! And it's the best for your family (especially if you have small children)!

After the lemons lost their color and needed to be replaced, it was time for my kitchen sink to get a good scrub down. I plugged the sink and I cut up the lemons. I took the end pieces to scrub the gunk off of the sink (stuck on soap) and was amazed that the lemon rind was even taking the water spots off of the faucet. It took almost zero elbow grease to work up the stuck on stuff (the soap sticky under the dispenser) and smelled great.

When I was done, I put all of the lemon (and lime) rinds in the sink and boiled some water in my teapot. I poured the boiling water in the sink with the leftover decorations and scrubbers (aka lemons and limes) and let it sit. It made the whole house smell like fragrant citrus.

When the water had cooled, I picked the larger pieces out of the sink and put them in the garbage where they continued their work to make the trash actually smell good! With two in diapers, that is saying a lot!

I allowed the smaller rinds to go down the garbage disposal and it helped "unstink" the disposal as well.

While I haven't tried this, I did find that you can even use lemons to clean your bathtub!

So why buy chemicals (seriously, next time read the ingredients on your cleaner...you can choose that...or just lemons and hot water) that smell "like" lemons when you can use the REAL thing...and no harmful chemicals??

How have you used natural items for cleaning?? Please share in the comments!

Tip Tuesday: Decorating With Fresh Fruit

I love the fresh fruit decorations...but I dislike plastic fruit. So last week I picked up some fresh lemons and limes and put them in clear flower vases. It makes for a fragrant, pretty addition to my kitchen.

Stay tuned to tomorrow's "Wash Wednesday" post on how to use the lemons to clean!

Food Friday: St. Patrick's Day Meal

Now, if you're Catholic you can't make this tonight...but you can sure have it tomorrow! It's my Corned Beef and Cabbage in the crock (how easy can it get) pot. I posted it before on Mommy's Recess but it's too good not to share again!

Super yummy, super easy and super Irish (American). Enjoy!